Local roundup -- Published May 22, 2008

Thursday

May 22, 2008 at 12:01 AM

St. Mary's catcher Michael Rivera, who along with his Rams teammates will try to earn a spot in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I baseball finals tonight, has been named the Tri-City Athletic League's Most Valuable Player.

The Record

St. Mary's catcher Michael Rivera, who along with his Rams teammates will try to earn a spot in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division I baseball finals tonight, has been named the Tri-City Athletic League's Most Valuable Player.

Rivera, the Rams starting catcher, is hitting .438 with five doubles, five home runs and 35 RBI. St. Mary's (19-11) will face Beyer (22-8), which lost 9-7 to Buhach Colony on Wednesday, at 7 tonight at Klein Family Field. The winner advances to Friday's championship against the Thunder (26-4).

Tracy leadoff hitter and shortstop Stevie Ramos, who set single-season school records with 43 hits and 35 runs scored, has been named the San Joaquin Athletic Association's Most Valuable Player.

Bear Creek's Tyler Eppler was honored as the offensive player of the year, and Lincoln sophomore Josh Rodriguez was the SJAA's top pitcher.

St. Mary's junior third baseman Cheryl Freitas, a third-year varsity starter, was selected the TCAL MVP. Freitas hit .650 in league play and .540 overall with 25 RBI.

East Union senior Erin Arevalo capped a brilliant pitching career by being named the Valley Oak League's MVP. Arevalo, who pitched the Lancers into the section finals for the second year in a row, finished 26-6 with 492 strikeouts, a 0.22 earned-run average and 11 no-hitters.

Weston Ranch's Felicia Cervantes was named the defensive player of the year, Manteca's Marissa Navarro was the top catcher, and Sierra's Nick Olmo was tapped as the league's coach of the year.